Method and system for inserting digital video effects into a video stream in redundant paths before routing

ABSTRACT

A system and apparatus for generating an output signal includes a receiving system  160  generating a plurality of signals having a first format and communicating the plurality of signals simultaneously through a primary path and a secondary path. A digital video effects module  240  inserting a digital video effect into at least a first signal of the plurality of signals in a primary path. An encoder  182  encoding the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams and a multiplexer. A local area network  130  routes the plurality of transport streams to the multiplexer to form a combined signal. A modulator  210  modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal and a system  202  forms the output signal from the modulated signal.

CROSS-REFERENCES TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to Utility applications Ser. No. (AttorneyDocket No. PD-206061) entitled “Method and System for Generating UplinkSignals from a Ground Segment”; Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206062)entitled “Method and System for Marking Video Signals forIdentification”; Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206063) entitled“Method and System for Inserting Digital Video Effects into a VideoStream Using a Bypass Router”; Ser. No. (Attorney Docket No. PD-206064)entitled “Method and System for Inserting Digital Video Effects into aVideo Stream After Bypass Routing and Before Encoding”; and Ser. No.(Attorney Docket No. PD-206066) entitled “Method and System forInserting Digital Video Effects into a Video Stream at a MultiplexingDevice After Routing”, filed simultaneously herewith. The disclosures ofthe above applications are incorporated by reference herein.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates generally to satellite communicationsystems, and more particularly to a method and apparatus for forminguplink signals having digital video effects inserted therein.

BACKGROUND

The statements in this section merely provide background informationrelated to the present disclosure and may not constitute prior art.

Satellite broadcasting of television signals has increased inpopularity. Satellite television providers continually offer more andunique services to their subscribers to enhance the viewing experience.Providing reliability in a satellite broadcasting system is therefore animportant goal of satellite broadcast providers.

High definition television offerings by major networks is continuallyincreasing. Providing increasing high definition television programmingto satellite television subscribers is desirable. For certain channelsinserting digital video effects into a channel may be desirable. Digitalvideo effects include overlays and changes to the picture screen. Thedigital video effects are desirable for many types of programmingincluding but not limited to sporting events.

It would therefore be desirable to provide a method and apparatus toreliably insert digital video effects into a television signal.

SUMMARY

In one aspect of the invention, a method of forming an output signalincludes receiving a plurality of signals having a first format,providing a primary path and a secondary path to a switch, inserting avideo effect into the plurality of signals in the primary path,thereafter, encoding the plurality of signals into a plurality oftransport streams, routing the plurality of transport streams through alocal area network to a multiplexer to form a combined signal,modulating the combined signal to form a modulated signal and formingthe output signal from the modulated signal.

In a further aspect of the invention, an apparatus for generating anoutput signal includes a receiving system generating a plurality ofsignals having a first format and communicating the plurality of signalssimultaneously through a primary path and a secondary path, a digitalvideo effects module inserting a digital video effect into at least afirst signal of the plurality of signals in a primary path, an encoderencoding the plurality of signals into a plurality of transport streamsand a multiplexer. A local area network routes the plurality oftransport streams to the multiplexer to form a combined signal. Amodulator modulates the combined signal to form a modulated signal and asystem forms the output signal from the modulated signal.

One advantage of the invention is that input signals may be reliablyprocessed so to insert digital video effects.

Further areas of applicability will become apparent from the descriptionprovided herein. It should be understood that the description andspecific examples are intended for purposes of illustration only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

DRAWINGS

The drawings described herein are for illustration purposes only and arenot intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure in any way.

FIG. 1 is an overall system view of a satellite communication system inthe continental United States.

FIG. 2 is a system view at the regional level of a satellite system.

FIGS. 3A and 3B are a continuous block schematic view of the systemillustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a block diagrammatic view of the control portion of the systemof FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of a primary and diverse site.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart illustrating switching logic for a primary anddiverse site.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is merely exemplary in nature and is notintended to limit the present disclosure, application, or uses. Itshould be understood that throughout the drawings, correspondingreference numerals indicate like or corresponding parts and features.

As used herein, the term module, circuit and/or device refers to anApplication Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), an electronic circuit, aprocessor (shared, dedicated, or group) and memory that execute one ormore software or firmware programs, a combinational logic circuit,and/or other suitable components that provide the describedfunctionality. As used herein, the phrase at least one of A, B, and Cshould be construed to mean a logical (A or B or C), using anon-exclusive logical or. It should be understood that steps within amethod may be executed in different order without altering theprinciples of the present disclosure.

The present disclosure is described with respect to a satellitetelevision system. However, the present disclosure may have various usesincluding satellite transmission and data transmission and reception forhome or business uses. The system may also be used in a cable system orwireless terrestrial communication system for generating an outputsignal.

Referring now to FIG. 1, a communication system 10 includes a satellite12. The communication system 10 includes a central facility 14 and aplurality of regional facilities 16A, 16B, 16C, 16D, 16E and 16F.Although only one satellite is shown, more than one is possible. Theregional facilities 16A-16F may be located at various locationsthroughout a landmass 18 such as the continental United States,including more or less than those illustrated. The regional facilities16A-16F uplink various uplink signals 17 to satellite 12. The satellitesdownlink signals 19 to various users 20 that may be located in differentareas of the landmass 18. The users 20 may be mobile or fixed users. Theuplink signals 17 may be digital signals such as digital televisionsignals or digital data signals. The digital television signals may behigh definition television signals. Uplinking may be performed atvarious frequencies including Ka band. The present disclosure, however,is not limited to Ka band. However, Ka band is a suitable frequencyexample used throughout this disclosure. The central facility 14 mayalso receive downlink signals 19 corresponding to the uplink signals 17from the various regional facilities and from itself for monitoringpurposes. The central facility 14 may monitor the quality of all thesignals broadcast from the system 10.

The central facility 14 may also be coupled to the regional facilitiesthrough a network such as a computer network having associatedcommunication lines 24A-24F. Each communication line 24A-F is associatedwith a respective regional site 16. Communication lines 24A-24F areterrestrial-based lines. As will be further described below, all of thefunctions performed at the regional facilities may be controlledcentrally at the central facility 14 as long as the associatedcommunication line 24A-F is not interrupted. When a communication line24A-F is interrupted, each regional site 16A-F may operate autonomouslyso that uplink signals may continually be provided to the satellite 12.Each of the regional and central facilities includes a transmitting andreceiving antenna which is not shown for simplicity in FIG. 1.

Referring now to FIG. 2, the regional facilities 16A-16F of FIG. 1 areillustrated collectively as reference numeral 16. The regionalfacilities 16 may actually comprise two facilities that include aprimary site 40 and a diverse site 42. As will be described below, thecentral site 14 may also include a primary site and diverse site as isset forth herein. The primary site 40 and diverse site 42 of both thecentral and regional sites are preferably separated by at least 25miles, or, more preferably, at least 40 miles. In one constructedembodiment, 50 miles was used. The primary site 40 includes a firstantenna 44 for transmitting and receiving signals to and from satellite12. Diverse site 42 also includes an antenna 46 for transmitting andreceiving signals from satellite 12.

Primary site 40 and diverse site 42 may also receive signals from GPSsatellites 50. GPS satellites 50 generate signals corresponding to thelocation and a precision timed signal that may be provided to theprimary site 40 through an antenna 52 and to the diverse site 42 throughan antenna 54. It should be noted that redundant GPS antennas (52A,B)for each site may be provided. In some configurations, antennas 44 and46 may also be used to receive GPS signals.

A precision time source 56 may also be coupled to the primary site 40and to the diverse site 42 for providing a precision time source. Theprecision time source 56 may include various sources such as coupling toa central atomic clock. The precision time source may be used to triggercertain events such as advertising insertions and the like.

The primary site 40 and the diverse site 42 may be coupled through acommunication line 60. Communication line 60 may be a dedicatedcommunication line. The primary site 40 and the diverse site 42 maycommunicate over the communication line using a video over internetprotocol (IP).

Various signal sources 64 such as an optical fiber line, copper line orsatellites may provide incoming signals 66 from the primary site 40 tothe diverse site 42. Incoming signal 66, as mentioned above, may betelevision signals. The television signals may be high-definitionsignals. The incoming signals 66 such as the television signal may berouted from the primary site 40 through the communication line 60 to thediverse site 42 in the event of a switchover whether the switchover ismanual or a weather-related automatic switchover. A manual switchover,for example, may be used during a maintenance condition.

In a terrestrial system, the satellites may be eliminated, used orreplaced by transmission towers that use terrestrial antennas in placeof antennas 46. In a cable system, the antennas 46 may be replaced withoptical fibers or copper wires.

Users 20 receive downlink signals 70 corresponding to the televisionsignals. Users 20 may include home-based systems or business-basedsystems. As illustrated, a user 20 has a receiving antenna 72 coupled toan integrated receiver decoder 74 that processes the signals andgenerates audio and video signals corresponding to the received downlinksignal 70 for display on the television or monitor 76. It should also benoted that satellite radio systems may also be used in place of an IRDand TV for use of the satellite signals.

The user 20 may also be a mobile user. The user may therefore beimplemented in a mobile device or portable device. The portable device80 may include but are not limited to various types of devices such as alaptop computer 82, a personal digital assistant 84, a cellulartelephone 86 or a portable media player 88.

Referring now to FIG. 3, a ground segment system 100 for processingcontent and forming an output signal is illustrated. One method forproviding content is using file-based content 102. The file-basedcontent 102 may be in various standard formats such as CableLabscontent, digital video disks or the like. The file-based content 102 isprovided to a content repository 104 that stores the various file-basedcontent. If needed, a content processing system 106 processes thecontent and converts the format of the file-based content. The contentprocessing system may convert the video compression format, theresolution, the audio compression format and audio bit rates to matchthe target broadcast path. The content from the content repository 104may be provided to various systems as will be described below. Thecontent repository 104 may also receive tape-based content 108. Thetape-based content 108 may be processed in the content processing system106 into various formats including a first format such ashigh-definition, serial digital interface (HD-SDI) format. The contentrepository 104 may provide content to baseband video servers 114. The(P) and the (B) in the Figure denote a primary and secondary or back-upbaseband video server. The content repository 104 may also providesignals to various service access processing systems 116. Asillustrated, several service access processing systems (SAPS) areillustrated. Both primary and back-up service access processing systems116 may be provided in the various chains. An automation system 120 maycontrol the insertion of various advertising into file-based and livestreams. The SAPS 116 may function as an advertising insertion module.The SAPS 116 may also include a digital video effects insertion moduledescribed below. The function of the automation system 120 will befurther described below.

Content repository 104 may also be coupled to a compressed video server122 and an ad-insertion server 124. The compressed video server 122 usescontent that is retrieved from the content repository well in advancewhich may be stored therein. Likewise, ads may be also drawn from thecontent repository 104. Both the content video server 122 andad-insertion server 124 provide content in a compressed manner. This isin contrast to the baseband video server 114 that is provided content ina baseband. The output of the content video server may be in an IPtransport stream. The content output of the compressed video server 122and the ad-insertion server 124 may be provided to a local area network130.

A traffic scheduling system (TSS) 132 schedules the content throughoutthe ground segment 100. The traffic scheduling system 132 generatesbroadcast schedules utilized by the baseband video servers 114, theservice access processing system 116, the automation system 120, thecompressed video server 122 and the ad-insertion server 124. The trafficand scheduling system 132 provides program-associated data (PAD) to ascheduled pad server (SPS) 134. The SPS 134 delivers theprogram-associated data to an advanced broadcast controller (ABC) 136.As will be described below, an advanced broadcast management systemillustrated in FIG. 4 may view and edit the program-associated data.

The traffic and scheduling system 132 may also be in communication withan advanced program guide system 138.

A live content source 40 delivered by way of a satellite optical fiberor copper wires couple live content to an L-band distribution androuting system 142. Of course, those skilled in the art will recognizevarious other frequencies may be used for the L-band. The output of therouting system 42 may be provided to ingest channels 150, turnaroundchannels 152, occasional channels 154, and continental United Stateslocal collection facility channels 156. Each of the various channels150-156 may represent a number of channels. Each of the channels hasprimary and secondary or back-up electronics for processing the datastream.

The output of the L-band distribution and routing system 142 providesignals to receivers 160. As mentioned above, the paths may be inprimary or secondary paths. The receivers 160 receive the feed signalfrom the L-band distribution and routing system 142 and demodulate thefeed signal. The receiver may also provide decryption. The feed signalmay be in an ATSC-compliant transport stream from terrestrial fiber orsatellite sources. The feed signal may also be a DVD-compliant transportstream delivered via satellite or fiber. The signal may also include adigicipher-compliant transport stream, a JPEG 2000 transport stream orvarious proprietary formats from various content providers. The outputof the receiver may be provided via an ASI or MPEG IP interface.

Should the content from the content provider be provided in a formatthat can be immediately used by the system, the receiver may be replacedwith a pass-through connector such as a barrel connector.

The receive signal from the receiver 160 is provided to decoders 162.The decoders 162 decode the receive signal to provide decoded signals.The receive signal may still be compressed and, thus, the decoder may beused for decoding the live compressed video and audio content. Thereceive signal may be an ATSC-compliant transport stream, aDVD-compliant transport stream, a digicipher-compliant transport stream,a JPEG 2000 transport stream or various proprietary formats that may bedelivered via ASI or MPEG/IP. The output of the decoder is a basebandsignal that may be in a variety of formats such as a high definitionserial digital interface (HD-SDI) format. The decoders 162 may alsoinclude a general purpose interface used to convey add trigger eventsvia contact closures. The input may be delivered directly from anupstream receiver, a conversion box that converts dual-tonemulti-frequency tones from the upstream receiver into the generalpurpose interface. The audio format may carry various types of audiostreams including Dolby digital, Dolby E or PCM audio. More than onetype of audio stream may be included for a signal. The house signal mayalso include society of cable telecommunication engineers standard 104and 35 messages. The house signal may also include closed captioning andvertical interval time code (VITC). It is possible that the decoder maynot be required if the content provided from the live content sources inthe proper format. Therefore, the decoder is an optional piece ofequipment.

For the occasional channels 154, the output of the decoders 162 may beprovided to an occasional HD-SDI routing system 164. An occasionalchannel is a live turnaround channel that only exists long enough tocarry one or more events, typically sporting events such as those in theNFL or NBA. The type of receiver formatting or authorizations may varydepending on the type of event. Only a small number of receivers areused for these types of events. The routing system 164 allows a properallocation of downstream equipment in proportion to the number of activebroadcast channels rather than the number of content providers.

An insertion module 166 is illustrated as a separate module for theinsertion of identification signals into the received signals. Theinsertion module 166 may also be incorporated into the receiver 160 orthe decoder 162. The insertion module 166 may be used to insert anetwork name, call letters, a channel name or other source identifiersinto the digital stream. Insertion may take place in various placesincluding before the signal is received at a receiver. This may beperformed at a content provider facility. For the occasional channels,the output of the routing system is provided to the service accessprocessing system (SAPS) 116. The output of the decoders 162 in theingest channels 150, the turnaround channels 152, and the CONUS localcollection facility channels 156 are each provided to the SAPS 116.

The SAPS 116 provide baseband processing which may include conversion toa house format and ad-insertion. The SAPS 116 receives a single HD-SDIsignal from each decoder 162. It is possible that the decoder and theSAPS may be combined in one unit. The service access processing system116 may extract and reinsert various audio streams, such as PCM, Dolbydigital, or Dolby E audio. The SAPS 116 may also transcode the signalsin the case where a different coding scheme is required. Variousoperational modes may also be incorporated into the SAPS 116 includingframe synchronization, error concealment, and the use of variableincoming bit rates. The SAPS 116 may also support real time changes inthe video format. The video format may, for example, be 1080p, 1080i,720p, and 480p.

Server-based channels 170 may also be included in the system.Server-based channels 170 include a baseband video server 114 thatreceives content from the content repository 104.

The primary and back-up baseband video servers 114 of the server-basedchannels 170 may be coupled to a receiver transfer unit (RTU) 176. Theprimary and back-up service access processing system of the turnaroundchannels 152, the occasional channels 154, and the remote collectionfacility channels 156 may all be coupled to a receiver transfer unit176. The receiver transfer unit 176 performs various functions includingredundancy switching or selection for choosing between the primary andthe back-up outputs of the baseband video server 114 or the serviceaccess processing system 116 and providing the chosen signal to anencoder 182. The receiver transfer units 176 may also route the signalsfor monitoring and redundancy to an HD-SDI monitoring system 186. Thereceiver transfer units 176 may provide an automatic redundancy mode inwhich the unit fails to a back-up input upon loss of a primary inputsignal. The RTU 176 may also be implemented so that a switch back fromthe back-up to the primary unit may not be automatically performedwithout manual intervention. The receiver transfer unit 176 may be aswitch that is controlled by software or the like. In the case of afailure of one of the encoders 182, a routing system 186 may be used toroute the signal through a back-up encoder 190.

The HD-SDI routing system 186 may provide a plurality of back-upencoders for the various channels.

The encoders 182 and the encoders 190 encode the video audioclosed-captioned data VITC and SCTE 35 data associated within a singlechain. The output of the encoder is a single program transport streamthat is provided by way of an MPEG-IP interface. The single programtransport stream (SPTS) is coupled to a local area network 130. Thelocal area network 130 may include a plurality of router 192 that areused to route the single port transport streams to an uplink signalprocessing system 200. Several uplink signal processing systems 200 maybe provided. The single program transport stream includes identificationof the signal so that it may be properly routed to the proper uplinksignal processing system. The uplink signal processing system 200generates an output to an uplink RF system (URFS) 202. The uplink signalprocessing system 200 may also provide redundant pairs to increase thereliability of the output signal.

The uplink signal processing system 200 may include a multiplexingsplicing system (MSS) 210, an advance transport processing system 212,and a modulator 214. Pairs of multiplexing splicing systems 210, advancetransport processing systems 212, and modulators 214 may be provided forredundancy. The multiplexing splicing system 210 multiplexes the singleprogram transport stream from the local area network 130 and may alsoprovide insertion of advertising into the signal. Thus, the MSS acts asa multiplexing module and as an ad insertion module. Various numbers ofsingle-program transport streams may be multiplexed. In one constructedembodiment, eight single program transport streams were multiplexed ateach MSS 210. The ads to be inserted at the MSS 210 may be formatted ina particular format such as MPEG 4 format and have various types ofdigital including Dolby digital audio streams. The MSS may identifyinsertion points based on SCTE 35 in the incoming stream.

The advance transport processing system 212 converts the DVB-complianttransport stream from the MSS 210 into an advanced transport stream suchas the DIRECTV A3 transport stream. The ATPS 212 may support either ASIor MPEG output interface for the broadcast path. Thus, the ATPS 212 actsas an encryption module. The ATPS 212 may accept data from the advancedbroadcast controller 136 and the advanced program guide system 138. TheATPS 212 may also be coupled to a data broadcast system 226. The datafrom the ABC 136, the APGS 138, and the DBS 226 are multiplexed into theoutput transport stream. Thus, the ATPS 212 acts as a data encryptionmodule. As will be described below, the ATPS may also be coupled to theadvanced broadcast management system described below in FIG. 4. Errorreporting to the advanced broadcast management system (300 in FIG. 4)may include transport level errors, video outages, audio outages, lossof connection from a redundancy controller or a data source, or acompression system controller.

The modulators 214 modulate the transport stream from the ATPS 212 andgenerate an RF signal at a frequency such as an L-band frequency.

An RF switch 216 is coupled to the primary modulator and back-upmodulator 214. The RF switch provides one output signal to the uplink RFsystem 202.

Referring back to the front end of the ground segment 100, a CONUS localcollection facility (CLCF) 226 may be used to collect live contentrepresented by box 228 at a content-provider site or delivered to theCLCF 226 by way of a fiber. A plurality of encoders 230 may be used toencode the signals in a useable format by the system. The encodersignals may be provided to a back hall internet protocol network 232 andprovided to a decoder 162 within the CLCF channels 156 or to a receiver160 in the CLCF. As mentioned above, if the content is formatted in ausable format, the receiver 160 may not be required. Should the receiverfunction be required, a receiver may be used in the system.

A digital video effects module 240 may also be incorporated into theground segment 100. The digital video effects module 240 is used tomodify or change the received signal. Various changes may be performedto the received signal to enhance the viewing experience. The signal maybe changed when the signal is in the baseband format. In the presentapplication, the high definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI) isused although other interfaces including analog may be used. The digitalvideo effects include but are not limited to providing a graphicsoverlay, video resizing, slide playback, logo insertion, and charactergeneration.

DVE module 240 is incorporated before any switching to the HD-SDI router186. The signals from the decode 162 may then route the signal to theDVE 240 which in turn routes the signal to the baseband video server 114in the ingest channels 150 and server based channels 170. In the case ofthe turnaround channels 152, the occasional channels 154 and the CLCFchannels 156, the HD-SDI signal or baseband signal with inserted digitalvideo effects may be provided to SAPS 116. After the BVS 114 or the SAPS116 the signal with the digital effect may be routed to the RTU 176 andultimately through an encoder 182 to the local area network 130 afterencoding in one of the encoders 182. The DVE 240 may be present in botha primary chain and a secondary chain, or both. The DVE 240 may beincorporated into the decoder 162, the BVS 114 or the SAPS 116. Afterencoding the signals are communicated and routed through the LAN 130 andultimately to the multiplexers (MSS) 210. It should be noted that anumbers of encoders 182 may be provided for each of the various typesand numbers of channels. Of course channels that never use digital videoeffects may not include a DVE module for cost savings.

Referring now to FIG. 4, an advanced broadcast management system (ABMS)300 is illustrated. The ABMS 300 monitors and controls the variousfunctions of the ground segment 200. The ABMS 300 is coupled to abroadcast control operator (BCO) 302. The BCO 302 is the primarymonitoring control point for various operations. A top-level view of theground segment 200 may be provided to the broadcast control operator. Asummary of the status of each channel may also be provided. The BCO mayroute channels to a various transponders to various monitors fortracking of ongoing problems.

The ABMS 300 may also be coupled to a broadcast operation supervisorstation (BOS) 304. The broadcast operation supervisor station 304provides additional monitoring control for operation supervisors inaddition to those above described with respect to the BCO 302. Videomonitors of any broadcast channel, as well as routes associated withcritical monitoring points, may be provided to the BOS 304. Also, audiooutputs may be selected for monitoring by BOS 304.

A sports central operator (SCO) 306 is utilized for manual ad-insertionstypically during sporting events. The SCO 306 may be used to monitor anybroadcast channel in the ground segment 200. Monitoring a video qualityand audio quality may take place at the SCO 306.

A trigger central system 308 may also be coupled to the ABMS 300. Thetrigger central system provides a primary monitoring point forsports-central related activities.

The sports operations supervisor station (SOS) 310 provides anadditional monitoring point for the sports central-related activities.The SOS 310 may monitor any broadcast channel in the ground segment 200.

Quality control stations 312 may also be coupled to the ABMS 300. Thequality control stations may provide primary monitoring and controlpoint for various technical services and support maintenance andtroubleshooting activity. The ABMS may include quality control, both inthe primary broadcasting center 314 and the diverse uplink facility 316.

The ABMS 300 may also be coupled to a compression control system (CCS)340. The compression control system 340 manages the encoder and MSSdevices illustrated in FIG. 3. The CCS 340 may be responsible for thecontrol and configuration management of the encoder and MSS equipment.Redundancies of the encoder may also be controlled by the CCS 340. Anexternal interface may be provided at the CCS for encoder and MSS healthstatus monitoring and redundancy control. The total video bandwidth mayalso be controlled by the CCS through an external interface. The ABMSmay also be coupled to the various equipment illustrated in FIG. 3, suchas the RTU 176, the modulator/RF switch 214/216, the ATPS 212, the Lband monitoring router 142, decoders 162, the SPS 134, the APGS 138, theAIS 124, the CVS 122, the BVS 114, and the modulator/RF switch 214/216of a diverse site.

The ABMS may also be coupled to an integrated receiver decoder 344 thatis used for receiving the signals from the satellite to monitor thequality thereof. All other broadcast equipment 346 may also be coupledto the ABMS for control and monitoring purposes.

As mentioned above, the ABMS 300 may include monitoring controlfunctions 350 and may also monitor the Integrated-Receiver-Decoder (IRD)Tuning Control (ITC) 352. ABMS 300 may also be coupled to the adinsertion server 354, which is responsible for management of ad contentand ad content delivery to the MSS 210.

Referring now to FIG. 5, the primary broadcast center 314 and diverseuplink facility 316 are illustrated in further detail. The circuitrywithin the primary broadcast center 314 is identical to that illustratedabove in FIG. 3 except that the ATPS 212 may be coupled to a wide areanetwork 360. The wide area network 360 provides signals from the primaryand back-up ATPS to a diverse uplink facility modulator 362. Both aprimary and back-up uplink modulator 362 may be provided. An RF switch364 may also be provided. The RF switch 364 may be a similarconfiguration to switch 216 described above. Likewise, the uplink RFsystem 366 may also provide a similar function to that described abovewith respect to uplink RF system 202.

Referring now to FIG. 6, a summary of a method of operating the systemof FIG. 3 is illustrated. In step 500, various signals are received. Thesignals that are received may be file-based content, tape-based content,or live content delivered in various manners including tapes, files,DVDs, satellite, or fibers.

In step 502, the receive signals may be demodulated if the signals arerequired. In step 504, the receive signals are decrypted, also as ifrequired.

In step 506, the signals are decoded. The decoded signals may be in ahigh definition serial digital interface (HD-SDI) format. The decodedsignals may be provided to a service access processing system or abaseband video system where they may continue to be processed. In step507 one or a number of the types of digital video effects may beinserted in the signal in step 508. The service access processing systemmay convert the signal to baseband. In step 510, the primary or back-upsignals that are converted to baseband may be selected or switched andprovided to an encoder for signals not requiring insertion of digitalvideo effects. Also, the switching unit may also provide this signal toa routing system for a monitoring and redundancy check prior toencoding. In step 512, the signals are encoded and in step 514 thesignals are routed through a local area network to a multiplexer. Themultiplexer multiplexes the signal in step 516. Several signals may bemultiplexed together.

In step 518, the advanced transport processing system may insert variousconditional access program guide information or other advertising orother data into the system in step 516. After step 518, the signals aremodulated in step 520. Preferably, as mentioned above, a primary andback-up multiplexing system, advance transport processing system and amodulator are provided. In step 522, switching to the primary or back-upsignal is performed in a switch. The output of the switch is used togenerate an output signal such as an uplink signal at an uplink RFsystem in step 524.

Those skilled in the art can now appreciate from the foregoingdescription that the broad teachings of the disclosure can beimplemented in a variety of forms. Therefore, while this disclosureincludes particular examples, the true scope of the disclosure shouldnot be so limited since other modifications will become apparent to theskilled practitioner upon a study of the drawings, the specification andthe following claims.

1. A method of forming an output signal comprising: receiving aplurality of signals having a first format; providing a primary path anda secondary path to a switch; inserting a video effect into theplurality of signals in the primary path; thereafter, encoding theplurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams; routing theplurality of transport streams through a local area network to amultiplexer to form a combined signal; modulating the combined signal toform a modulated signal; and forming the output signal from themodulated signal.
 2. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the step ofencoding and inserting are performed in an encoder.
 3. A method asrecited in claim 1 further comprising inserting a video effect into theplurality of signals in the secondary path.
 4. A method as recited inclaim 1 further comprising after the step of inserting a video effect,selecting a primary path or a secondary path.
 5. A method as recited inclaim 1 wherein the digital video effect comprises a graphics overlay.6. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein the digital video effectcomprises video resizing.
 7. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein thedigital video effect comprises slide playback.
 8. A method as recited inclaim 1 wherein the digital video effect comprises character generation.9. A method as recited in claim 1 further comprising after the step ofinserting, communicating the plurality of signals to a monitoringsystem.
 10. A method as recited in claim 1 wherein forming the outputsignal comprises forming an uplink signal from the diverse site.
 11. Amethod as recited in claim 10 wherein the uplink signal comprises a Kaband uplink signal.
 12. An apparatus for generating an output signalcomprising: a receiving system generating a plurality of signals havinga first format and communicating the plurality of signals simultaneouslythrough a primary path and a secondary path; a digital video effectsmodule inserting a digital video effect into at least a first signal ofthe plurality of signals in a primary path; an encoder encoding theplurality of signals into a plurality of transport streams; amultiplexer; a local area network routing the plurality of transportstreams to the multiplexer to form a combined signal; a modulatormodulating the combined signal to form a modulated signal; and a systemforming the output signal from the modulated signal.
 13. An apparatus asrecited in claim 12 wherein the digital video effects module inserts thedigital video effect into at least a the first signal of the pluralityof signals in a secondary path.
 14. An apparatus as recited in claim 12further comprising a switch selecting a primary path or a secondary pathafter inserting a video effect.
 15. An apparatus as recited in claim 12wherein the digital video effect comprises a graphics overlay.
 16. Anapparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the digital video effectcomprises video resizing.
 17. An apparatus as recited in claim 12wherein the digital video effect comprises slide playback.
 18. Anapparatus as recited in claim 12 wherein the digital video effectcomprises character generation.
 19. An apparatus as recited in claim 12further comprising a monitoring system receiving the plurality ofsignals after the digital video effect module.
 20. An apparatus asrecited in claim 12 wherein the diverse site forms an uplink signal fromthe diverse site from the output signal.
 21. An apparatus as recited inclaim 20 wherein the uplink signal comprises a Ka band uplink signal.22. An apparatus as recited in claim 20 wherein the uplink signalcomprises a digital television signal.
 23. An apparatus as recited inclaim 20 wherein the uplink comprises a high-definition digitaltelevision signal.